2013 Critérium du Dauphiné Race Preview

The spring season is basically over, and it’s time for one
of the key races that the riders and teams use to fine-tune their summer form
going into the Tour De France. The Critérium du Dauphiné offers the riders an
eight stage opportunity to test their legs against many
of the same competitors that they will face in the Tour De France--and a small
glance at some of the upcoming Tour De France route.

The 2013 Critérium du Dauphiné route

The 65th edition of the Dauphiné begins this Sunday,
June 2 in Champéry, Switzerland and ends the following Sunday in Risoul,
France. The race is eight stages long and covers about 1138 kilometers in
total. This year’s edition is particularly hilly, with four climbing finishes
(2 big ones), and only one or two potential legitimate bunch-sprint stages. It
also includes a 32.5 km flat individual time trial on stage 4.

Part of stage 8 of the Dauphiné includes the renowned 21
switchbacks of the Alpe d’Huez climb, followed by a short descent and climb
over the Col de Sarenne. This same section of the route will feature in stage
18 of the Tour De France next month, so the riders can get some practice in. The TDF route however, will then climb
Alpe d’Huez a second time, the summit hosting that stage’s finish.

No time bonuses at the Dauphiné stage finishes means riders
will have to attack the leaders and try to gain valuable time in the hills or
in the time trial.This will not
be easy since many of the Tour favorites will be here testing themselves and
each other’s prowess.

As usual the Critérium du Dauphiné has drawn most of the
Tour De France favorites. The winner of the last two editions, Bradley Wiggins
of Team Sky, has dropped out of the race, citing lingering illness and knee
pain from his Giro d’Italia crash. He says the residual suffering is preventing
him from training effectively. He has also withdrawn his name from Team Sky’s
Tour De France roster. I guess that ends the yearlong debate over who Team
Sky’s Tour leader will actually be.It is difficult to say how much support Chris Froome might have expected
from Wiggins in the mountains. So…

Froome and Contador are the big favorites. Contador has been
gradually building his form to peak in the Tour de France, so he’ll be
expecting to do well on the climbs and in the time trial this week. Froome has
looked strong all season, winning two stage races and earning several other
high finishes, so he will be looking to maintain--and improve on—the dominant
form he has already showed.

Right now it looks like some rain is expected in the region this
week, with temperatures in Champéry for Sunday’s stage 1 in the 50’s (f). The 121-kilometer opening stage is
scheduled to run from about 6 a.m. to about 9 a.m. EDT (11:55 a.m. to about 3
p.m. CET). The stages are running a little early to leave the broadcasters time for the French Open (Roland Garros) tennis tournament.

My pick for the overall win: Sky’s TDF leader, Chris Froome.

Stage 1 pick: He hasn’t raced in six weeks, but I’ll go with
Tony Gallopin (RSL).